Beef and Broccoli

The other night we went out to dinner at a restaurant that was hosting a Halloween party. It's a beloved restaurant of Johnny's and mine that I've written about before.

I'm not sure if it was too busy, the entertainment was too loud, our waitress was inexperienced, or costumes that made it hard of hearing (on the staff's part), but it was not the positive experience we're used to there.

My drink came wrong and it was disgusting to put it nicely. I knew it was wrong as she brought it to me because it was in the wrong glass and looked nothing like it was supposed to. I risked it and took a gulp. Bleck. So, I sat for a few minutes to get up the courage to send something back for the very first time! Believe me, I'll be as confrontational as all get out if the price is wrong, but it's a different story insulting somebody that made your food (or drink)!

Then the steaks came and before they even hit the table I knew something was wrong. They looked grey and we'd ordered medium rare. The restaurant was really dark, so I couldn't see how they were cooked on the inside, but I could sure taste the difference. I ended up taking a picture with my flash and sure enough it was medium well. Not my cup of tea at all, but Johnny's steak was the same way - so I think she heard wrong.

I asked a busboy for steak sauce and choked down maybe 1/4th of the steak, but I could not get up the nerve to send it back. I'd already sent back my drink, I didn't want to be the snobby girl who has to have everything her way! But looking back I wished I'd kept the nasty $6 drink and sent back the $40 steak!!! Hindsight is 20/20, right?

So, I did the next best thing - wrapped them up (Johnny only ate half of his) and decided to make the best of them with creative leftovers!

Beef and Broccoli

3 small heads of broccoli, cut and steamed
1 small onion, sliced thin
~ 1 Tbsp oil
3 Tbsp teriyaki sauce
3 Tbsp hoisin sauce
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup water
~1 - 1.5 cup leftover steak, sliced
sesame seeds, to garnish (optional)

To start, I washed and cut the broccoli and steamed it in a little bit of water in our stovetop wok with the lid on. Once it was done, I drained it in a colander to save for later.

I sliced a smallish onion thin and sauteed it in a little bit of oil in the wok with the lid off until it became translucent.

Next, I added the sauces and stirred until combined. I let this boil away for a few minutes for the sauce to thicken and reduce.

I sliced the meat thin and added it for only about one minute once the sauce was reduced. I wanted it to heat, but not cook any further. Then I added the steamed broccoli and stirred everything around to incorporate the sauce evenly. I popped the lid on, and turned off the heat for a few minutes while the rice finished.

We ate it over white rice, sprinkled with some sesame seeds. The extra water and steam from the broccoli unfortunately watered down the sauce, but it was still delicious!

We both had a big plate for dinner and there's enough leftover for 2 lunch sized servings. I'd call that a successful steak salvage!


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